Between the Lines

Sarah Selby (United Kingdom)

Artwork description

Between the Lines is an innovative project that aims to weave the personal experiences of

individuals subjected to the UK border regime back into the systems that govern them. By combining traditional administrative tools of pen and paper with cutting-edge DNA data storage technology, the project infiltrates the bureaucratic systems of the UK Border Regime.

Today’s border regime is a techno-political system that stretches beyond geographic boundaries, increasingly deploying artificial intelligence and automated decision-making algorithms on a global scale. These systems rely on the quantification of human experiences, reducing them to mathematical formulas and transforming individuals into statistical risk ratings.

During the project, individuals subjected to the UK border regime record their testimonies and experiences, which are then converted into binary data and encoded into synthetic DNA. The synthetic DNA is mixed with writing ink and injected into pens, which are then distributed to the frontline administrative workers of the UK border regime.

As the pens are used, the synthetic DNA transfers to the paper, embedding the lived experiences of those impacted back into the bureaucratic system that governs them and subsequently spreading throughout the administrative systems of the UK border regime.

The project seeks to highlight the human experiences behind the numbers and statistics, raising

public awareness of the dehumanising nature of the border regime. It aims to create a sense of shared responsibility towards upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals impacted by the border regime and promote a more compassionate and inclusive understanding of immigration policies.

Partners and collaborators

Artist:

Sarah Selby (https://www.sarahselby.co.uk)

Collaborators:

Cari Hyde-Vaamonde (https://www.turing.ac.uk/people/enrichment-students/cari-hyde-vaamonde)

Beyond Detention (https://www.beyonddetention.org/ )

Twist Bioscience (https://www.twistbioscience.com/)

Commissioners:

Science Gallery London in collaboration with Future Everything as part of 2023 Season: ‘AI: Who’s

Looking After Me?’ (https://london.sciencegallery.com/ai-season)